Distribution of live benthic foraminifera in the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain)

The spatial and vertical distributions of live benthic foraminifera from the muddy central axis of the Ría de Vigo were examined under downwelling and upwelling conditions. The spatial distribution of the main benthic foraminiferal species is controlled by salinity variations (San Simón Assemblage), food availability (Outer Ría Assemblage) and oxygen concentrations and/or reducing microenvironmental conditions in the sediment (Inner Ría Assemblage).The microhabitat distribution of benthic foraminifera is mainly dependant on the oxygenation/redox conditions in the sediment and the vertical segregation of food. In the inner areas of the ría, low oxygen and/or reducing microenvironmental conditions prevent the vertical segregation of microhabitats. In outer areas oxygen penetration is deep but microhabitat partitioning only occurs in the presence of additional food resources (mainly fresh organic carbon from phytoplankton blooms) which triggers the colonisation of the surface layer by new species and the migration upwards and reproduction of opportunistic species

Microhábitats de foraminíferos bentónicos en la ría de Vigo y su aplicación a la interpretación paleoecológica.

En este trabajo se han analizado las asociaciones actuales y subactuales de foraminíferos bentónicos a lo largo del eje central de la ría de Vigo con tres objetivos fundamentales: establecer los parámetros ambientales que controlan los microhábitats de estos organismos, determinar el efecto tafonómico y sentar las bases para una interpretación paleoecológica precisa de los ambientes de rías. Los resultados obtenidos en las biocenosis ponen de manifiesto que la distribución de foraminíferos bentónicos en un medio concreto está en equilibrio dinámico con las condiciones ambientales. Las acusadas variaciones espaciales y estacionales observadas se deben fundamentalmente a cambios en el aporte de materia orgánica al fondo. Sin embargo, el exceso de alimento introducido por la surgencia de agua oceánica durante el verano, causa un rápido empobrecimiento en oxígeno en el interior del sedimento, pasando a ser este parámetro el principal factor limitante de la infauna. Por consiguiente, los microhábitats de los foraminíferos bentónicos no son constantes, sino que se modifican como respuesta a las variaciones en la disponibilidad de alimento y a la oxigenación. Por su parte, las tanatocenosis/tafocenosis poseen unas características generales semejantes a las de las biocenosis, por lo que reflejan de forma bastan 99 P. Diz et al. Microhábitats de foraminíferos bentónicos en la ría de Vigo... te exacta la paleoecología del medio. No obstante se han establecido algunas diferencias tanto cualitativas como cuantitativas que deben ser tenidas en cuenta para interpretar de forma más acertada el registro fósil. Algunas especies son más abundantes en las asociaciones muertas que en las biocenosis, mientras que un menor número de taxones que se encuentran vivos frecuentemente, son destruidos por los procesos fosildiagenéticos y están subestimados en el registro sedimentario.In this work living and dead benthic foraminifera assemblages from the central axis of the ria de Vigo have been analysed. The main goals were: establishing the environmental parameters controlling benthic foraminifera microhabitats, determining the taphonomic effects, and stating the elements for an accurate paleoecological interpretation of the rias environment. The living assemblages show that benthic foraminifera distribution in the studied area reflects the dynamic equilibrium with the environmental conditions. The sharp spatial and seasonal changes observed are caused by organic matter supply fluctuations. Nevertheless, summer upwelling events produce an excess of organic flux to the bottom which accelerates the oxygen consumption into the sediment. So the oxygenation level becomes the main limiting parameter for infaunal species. As consequence, benthic foraminifera microhabitats are not stable, but they change according to food and oxygen availability. On the other hand, the dead assemblages show similar features to those from living ones. Then, the dead assemblages are an accurate expression of the paleoenvironmental conditions. However some qualitative and quantitative differences should be taken into account for a better understanding of the fossil record. Several species are more abundant in the dead assemblages than in the living ones, whereas there are some taxa that are more frequent alive. These taxa were destroyed by fossildiagenetic processes and thus are underestimated in the dead assemblages

Towards sustainability in European agricultural firms

European agricultural activity plays an important role in European and world food security through the agricultural production, supply and international trade. The main aim of this paper was analyses the agricultural sustainability of the twenty-nine Member States of the European Union in terms of economics, environmental, social and political activity. Information and data comes from FADN database from the European Commission. The methodology includes the min-max approach and multivariate methods, namely, Component Principal Analysis and Cluster analysis. The results confirm three groups of European countries, namely, the North and Central countries; the New Member States and the Mediterranean counties. The results also confirm that European agriculture firms and respective countries had a medium sustainability. The main conclusion highlines confirms the importance of the sustainability as a tool to better adjust agricultural policies among the European Member States.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Analysing the Trump and Brexit voters

This paper refers to two recent political phenomena: the Brexit, separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. It is important to note that the results on both occasions did not meet the expectations based on opinion polls, on one hand, and, on the other, seemed to be influenced by the adoption of populist attitudes by some of the people and parties involved. It is therefore necessary to deepen the knowledge about the two situations, their fundamentals and their outcomes. That is the objective of this paper. To gather published information and try to use it for the understanding of the results based on existing theories and thoughts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Climate fluctuations during the Holocene in NW Iberia: high and low latitude linkages

International audienceHigh resolution benthic foraminiferal oxygen and carbon stable isotopes (?18O, ?13C) from core EUGC-3B are used here to infer rapid climatic changes for the last 8500 yr in the Ría de Muros (NW Iberian Margin). Benthic foraminiferal ?18O and ?13C potentially register migrations in the position of the hydrographic front formed between two different intermediate water masses: Eastern North Atlantic Central Water of subpolar origin (ENACWsp), and subtropical origin (ENACWsp). The isotopic records have been compared with two well established North Atlantic marine Holocene paleoceanographic records from low (Sea Surface Temperatures anomalies off Cape Blanc, NW Africa) and high latitudes (Hematite Stained Grains percentage, subpolar North Atlantic). This comparison clearly demonstrates that there is a strong link between high- and low-latitude climatic perturbations at centennial-millennial time scales during the Holocene. Spectral analyses also points at a pole-to-equator propagation of the so-called 1500 yr cycles. Our results demonstrate that during the Holocene, the NW Iberian Margin has undergone a series of cold episodes which are likely triggered at high latitudes in the North Atlantic and are rapidly propagated towards lower latitudes. Conceivably, the propagation of these rapid climatic changes involves a shift of atmospheric and oceanic circulatory systems and so a migration of the hydrographical fronts and water masses all along the North Atlantic area

SEOM-GECP-GETTHI Clinical Guidelines for the treatment of patients with thymic epithelial tumours (2021)

Chemotherapy; Lenvatinib; Thymic epithelial tumoursQuimioterapia; lenvatinib; Tumores epiteliales tímicosQuimioteràpia; Lenvatinib; Tumors epitelials tímicsThymic epithelial tumours (TET) represent a heterogeneous group of rare malignancies that include thymomas and thymic carcinoma. Treatment of TET is based on the resectability of the tumour. If this is considered achievable upfront, surgical resection is the cornerstone of treatment. Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard regimen for advanced TET. Due to the rarity of this disease, treatment decisions should be discussed in specific multidisciplinary tumour boards, and there are few prospective clinical studies with new strategies. However, several pathways involved in TET have been explored as potential targets for new therapies in previously treated patients, such as multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors with antiangiogenic properties and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). One third of patient with thymoma present an autoimmune disorders, increasing the risk of immune-related adverse events and autoimmune flares under ICIs. In these guidelines, we summarize the current evidence for the therapeutic approach in patients with TET and define levels of evidence for these decisions

Steering cell migration by alternating blebs and actin-rich protrusions

Background High directional persistence is often assumed to enhance the efficiency of chemotactic migration. Yet, cells in vivo usually display meandering trajectories with relatively low directional persistence, and the control and function of directional persistence during cell migration in three-dimensional environments are poorly understood. Results Here, we use mesendoderm progenitors migrating during zebrafish gastrulation as a model system to investigate the control of directional persistence during migration in vivo. We show that progenitor cells alternate persistent run phases with tumble phases that result in cell reorientation. Runs are characterized by the formation of directed actin-rich protrusions and tumbles by enhanced blebbing. Increasing the proportion of actin-rich protrusions or blebs leads to longer or shorter run phases, respectively. Importantly, both reducing and increasing run phases result in larger spatial dispersion of the cells, indicative of reduced migration precision. A physical model quantitatively recapitulating the migratory behavior of mesendoderm progenitors indicates that the ratio of tumbling to run times, and thus the specific degree of directional persistence of migration, are critical for optimizing migration precision. Conclusions Together, our experiments and model provide mechanistic insight into the control of migration directionality for cells moving in three-dimensional environments that combine different protrusion types, whereby the proportion of blebs to actin-rich protrusions determines the directional persistence and precision of movement by regulating the ratio of tumbling to run times

Complications and treatment errors in periodontal therapy in medically compromised patients

Patients who are medically compromised may be at an increased risk of complications and treatment errors following periodontal therapy. A review of the evidence on the topic is presented, in relation to the type of complication reported, of periodontal treatment, and of patients' medical status. Further, a framework for risk assessment and appropriate treatment modifications is introduced, with the aim of facilitating the management of patients with existing comorbidities and reducing the incidence of treatment complications

Genetic variants related to nicotine dependence

Large-scale population studies have proved that genetic factors contribute to individual differences in smoking behavior. Genes responsible for nicotine's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics seem mainly involved, although a significant fraction of variance remains unexplained. In this study we examined 10 SNPs from 8 candidate genes with positive previous reports of association with smoking. A total of 454 Italian unrelated subjects were genotyped by a multiplex minisequencing assay through the SNaPShot kit. Cases were chosen as current and former nicotine dependent (FTND. >. 4 and SQ. >. 15), while controls were smoking-exposed but non-dependent and never smoker individuals (FTND = 0 and SQ < 10 and FTND = 0 and SQ = 0, respectively). Preliminary results shows that the SNPs CHRNA5-rs16969968 and CHRNA3-rs1051730 could be associated with risk of developing nicotine dependence. Factors as age, sex, and exposition to smoke were also found as possible factors of risk of nicotine addiction. The identification of susceptibility loci for individual response to substance abuse is particularly motivating for medicine for the global epidemic dimension of addictions and the urgent need of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Relación de la calidad de vida profesional y el burnout en médicos de atención primaria

ObjetivoConocer la relación, si es que la hay, entre la calidad de vida profesional (CVP) y burnout de facultativos de atención primaria.DiseñoEstudio transversal mediante cuestionario CVP-35 y MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory), por correo postal.ÁmbitoTres centros urbanos y 3 zonas de atención rural. Participó un total de 131 profesionalesMedicionesDel CVP-35 se obtienen puntuaciones que van de 0 (mínimo) a 10 (máximo). El cuestionario Maslach clasifica en nivel alto, medio y bajo de cada dimensión.ResultadosContestó a la encuesta el 71,7%. La edad media era de 44 años y la media de tarjetas sanitarias, 1.339. El número de consultas/día fue de 37; en cuanto las visitas domiciliarias, realizaban una diaria. El valor medio de la CVP fue de 4,48 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 4,08-4,88). La percepción de la demanda tuvo una puntuación de 5,9 (IC del 95%, 5,6-6,1); la motivación intrínseca del profesional se situó en 6,5 (IC del 95%, 6,2-6,7) y el apoyo de los directivos en 3,8 (IC del 95%, 3,6-4,1). En cuanto al cuestionario MBI, se observó una despersonalización alta en el 54,3%, cansancio emocional alto en un 56,2% y realización personal alta en el 9,3%. La correlación mayor fue entre las demandas en el puesto y el cansancio emocional (r=0,6; p<0,0001), la motivación intrínseca y la realización personal (r=0,46; p<0,0001) y la calidad de vida profesional frente al cansancio emocional (r=−0,4; p<0,0005).ConclusionesLa CVP y el burnout miden dimensiones diferentes pero relacionadas. Por tanto, su utilidad es diferente en función de los objetivos. Con estos instrumentos se pueden identificar elementos clave de la gestión de personas que pueden mejorar la calidad de vida profesional.ObjectiveTo know the relationship, if this exists, between the quality of professional life (CPL) and the burnout of primary health care staff.DesignTransversal study employing CVP-35 test and MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory), both sent by postmail.Setting3 urban centers and 3 rural centers. Total: 131 professionals.MeasuresIn the CVP-35 test, scores from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) are obtained. Maslach categorised each dimension into high, medium and low level.Results71.7% answered. Medium age 44 years, average of 1339 sanitary cards. The number of visits/day was 37, home visits 1 per day. The CVP average was 4.48 (95% CI, 4.08-4.88). The damage perception in the post 5.9 (95% CI, 5.6-6.1); the professional intrinsic motivation 6.5 (95% CI, 6.2-6.7), and the manager support 3.8 (95% CI, 3.6-4.1). MBI: high depersonalization 54.3%, emotional exhaustion (r=0.6; P<.0001), intrinsic motivation, and personal accomplishment (r=0.46; P<.0001) and profesional quality of life front emotional fatigue (r= −0.4; P<.0005).ConclusionsCPL and burnout measure different but related dimensions. Therefore, its utility is dependent on the objectives. Target elements, which can improve the quality of professional life, can be identified from these tools